Poeaxtry's Prism

Spell. Stone. & Sparks that Ignite Change

Author: poeaxtry_

  • Mother’s Day Grief- A Digital Haunting & Legacy Loss

    Mother’s Day Grief- A Digital Haunting & Legacy Loss

    Best for:

    Adult orphans, individuals navigating holiday triggers after loss, bereaved children of the digital age, and ex-pats searching for home.

    The Vault:

    • The Six-Month Wall: Why the half-year mark post-loss is a uniquely vulnerable period for the bereaved.
    • Algorithmic Cruelty: The psychological impact of inescapable retail marketing on grieving individuals.
    • Polish Lineage: Connecting the dots between a Mother’s Day loss and a grandfather’s May 10th birthday.
    • Movement as Medicine: Utilizing hiking as a functional tool to process stagnant emotional weight.

    Another Season of Grief:

    The end of April and the start of May often bring with them a specific kind of atmospheric pressure. If you’ve experienced this you know it has nothing to do with weather. Yet those of us unfortunate orphaned adult-children navigating Mother’s Day grief and the digital haunting of an inescapable connected world, know that this season of grief is less about bouquets and more about survival.

    This journal explores the actual life experiences and the tolls that come from experiencing first’s after parent loss. It is a look at the specific gut-punch that the grueling six-month marker leaves after a loss and, the real frustration caused by a capitalistic landscape that, until recently, offered no exit ramp for the grieving.

    By unpacking the many layers of family, loss, and the specific sting of my grandfather’s birthday falling in the same week as Mother’s Day brings, we can figure out what works to help us move through the stagnant air of loss and towards the restorative spaces that bring each of us peace.

    The Six-Month Wall & a Digital Haunting:

    In May 2022, I hit a invisible wall. I was almost exactly six months out from losing my mom. The date that changed my life was November the 8th, 2021. This timeframe acted as a brutal sweet spot where the initial shock had evaporated. In its wake it left behind a cold, permanent reality. It was during this window, that the Mother’s Day grief and the digital haunting began in earnest.

    The inbox of every email address I used became a minefield. DoorDash, Etsy, Amazon, Temu, and many others were relentless with their Mother’s Day marketed emails.

    Dad, Mom, and Me. In 2004. Bridge Street Middle School 6th grade Family Night

    I can feel the sensations still as if my memory is my current reality; I feel the physical sensation and, then I have to stop myself from questioning if it is really happening.

    I can feel my chest tighten.

    I remember how I could feel the mechanical and biological systems of my lungs working; I knew I was breathing.

    Yet, the air felt like it wasn’t working to fill my lungs adequately enough to get half of a breath.

    It goes without saying but, I still will mention that I emailed these companies, multiple times. I was doing the internets equivalent of begging on my knees for them to find a way to exclude people who had lost their parents among other things from these marketing campaigns.

    However, back in 2022, the opt-out feature I was finally able to utilize this year, was not something they had developed. Self-sabotage or some other kind of twisted form of psychological self harm made these emails feel a magnetized.

    My need to read them was bordering on masochistic, as I couldn’t just ignore even one notification. If the algorithm was going to torture me, I should at least witness it. I at least owe my mom the suffering it caused me as a gift; do I not?

    Warwood West Virginia- Polish Songs, Family Homes, & My Cultural Roots:

    The weight of the first Mother’s Day without my mom is worsened by its proximity to May 10th, my Judji’s (grandfather’s) birthday.

    This date acts as a mental bridge or reminder back to an old Victorian house in Warwood, West Virginia. A place that contained a set of heavy pocket doors my childhood body could barely will to move, smells of cabbage rolls or that days soup cooking, and the sounds of my multi- generational family singing songs in Polish.

    We were a loop of the same DNA; I look very close to identical to my mom, who looked even closer to exactly like her grandmother, Butchie.

    Judji was the small town’s gatekeeper of culture in his own way. He began running a VHS rental out of the house with a handwritten ledger. If you didn’t return his movie to that Victorian on 17th Street, you couldn’t rent another. He continued this system all the way through 2 other homes on 17th street still, and an apartment at Garden Park Towers.

    Caucasian woman with light brown curly hair tied back sticks her tongue out pretending to lick her child’s face child has dark brown hair and a white onesie on

    These memories are part of the antidote to my Mother’s Day grief and the digital haunting that tries to flatten our parents into marketing demographics. My mom wasn’t a receiver of the unthoughtful Mother’s Day Catalog gifts; I couldn’t disrespect the woman who knew I was lying as soon as she saw my hives each time I snuck orange juice and chocolate, or the daughter of a man with a “Jason” mask on the basement door like that.

    Breaking the Stagnancy Through Movement:

    When the grief feels like it’s going to sit on your chest endlessly, the only solution I have found that works for me is to change my scenery. My mom and I shared a deep love for the outdoors, I’ve turned the trail into my cathedral.

    • The Memorial Hike: I choose a path we walked together, one she mentioned wanting to try, or I simply try to notice little things she would have pointed out on trail.
    • Active Remembering: Taking the body she gave me, putting it into motion the way she showed me in nature, and remembering why I go outside.
    • The Digital Mute: Leaving the “hammering” of the inbox behind for the silence of the trees.

    By the time I reach the overlook, turnaround spot, or end of the loop, the tightness in my chest is a thing of the past. The movement doesn’t erase the loss, but it proves that I am still capable of moving forward while honoring our bond.

    Navigating Mother’s Day grief and the digital haunting of modern life requires more than just “getting through it.” it requires a conscious reclamation of the day for me, at least.

    Whether it’s through the memory of a grandfather’s VHS ledger in West Virginia or a steep climb in the woods, we survive by keeping the legacy in motion. We are the living evidence of the people we’ve lost, and as long as we keep moving to honor their memory their stories don’t have to stay stagnant inside us.

    TLDR:

    When the six-month wall of grief hits, and retailers hammer your inbox with Mother’s Day ads you can’t mute, the air gets thin and my chest tight. By connecting the holiday to the deeper family legacy of a grandfather’s May 10th birthday and hitting the hiking trails, we can transform a stagnant, digital haunting into a physical, honoring movement.

  • Naturally Occurring Marbles: Ohio’s Multiple sized Spherical Rocks:

    Naturally Occurring Marbles: Ohio’s Multiple sized Spherical Rocks:

    Jot down the first thing that comes to your mind.

    Best for:

    Individuals planning to go rockhounding in Ohio , amateur paleontologists, those interested in naturally occurring anomalies, Ohio hikers, and creative minds seeking the intersection of geological history and ancient folklore.

    The Vault:

    • Huron Boulders & Serpent Eggs: Two more common names for the naturally occurring spherical rock formations, scientifically known as concretions, found throughout Ohio’s shale outcrops.
    • Geological Time Capsules: These iron-rich stones formed 300 million years ago in a prehistoric tropical sea, starting as organic nuclei like shells or fossils.
    • Red-Dog : Known for their distinct rusty orange and red hues, these concretions are often harder than the surrounding sandstone and shale.
    • Legend and Lore: Often incorrectly tied to Native American history, these spheres may have been historically used for pigments, tools, or associated with ancient spiritual “egg-stones.”

    Random Naturally Occurring Round Rocks Roll- Ohio:

    The first thing that came to my mind was how bad I would love to find some of Ohio’s Concretions. These are the small to gigantic-sized spherical shaped rocks; which oddly enough are naturally occurring.

    Thought the scientific name for these rock formations is “concretion,” they are more commonly referred to as Huron boulders, cannonballs, stone spheres, and petrified serpent eggs; some southern Ohio rockhounds, geologists, and miners even refer to them as red-dog due to their iron rich, red hue.

    These concretions and are found across the outcrop belt of the Devonian-age Ohio Shale, extending from the Ohio River’s banks in Adams county to the Northernmost banks of Lake Erie. This daily prompt response is a deep-dive into the “why” and “how” of these spherical stones.

    Today we aren’t just looking at rocks; we’re looking at time capsules. I want to map out where these spheres hide, the science that formed them, the Native American legends surrounding them, and our modern lore all of which has rolled alongside them for centuries. Whether you’re a technical gear-head or a lyrical wanderer, these stones have a story that demands an exploration

    The Mystery Rock Rolling in Ohio:

    Imagine walking through the dense, woods of Southern Ohio and stumbling upon a perfectly spherical rock the size of a, golf ball, baseball, bowling ball or even a small car.

    These surprises aren’t remnants of a forgotten civilization’s sports league; they are some of the most fascinating geological anomalies in the Midwest. Known locally as “Huron Rocks” and “petrified serpent eggs” among other.

    These ironstone concretions represent a approximately 300-million-year-old secret, that the sandstone cliffs and creek beds of our backyards have been keeping hidden.

    How Nature Carves a Sphere:

    To understand how a concretion forms, you have to think like the ocean. Long before Ohio was a part of the United States and full of State Preserves and Metro Parks, it was a tropical, shallow, and prehistoric sea.

    These round rock formations began as a tiny bit of organic matter like a shell, a leaf, or a fragment of a Devonian fish. As this matter decayed, it created a chemical reaction that drew minerals (specifically iron and carbonate) toward it, layering them like a pearl.  

    The result was a mass that is significantly harder than the surrounding shale or sandstone. Over millions of years, as the softer host rock erodes away, these iron-rich spheres are then formed on the forest floor.

    In Adams County, these ironstone concretions, often displaying a deep rusty orange, red, or brown hue due to high iron contents.

    Key Parts of Concretion Formation:

    • Nucleus: The organic matter or bit at the center, often a fossil.
    • Accretion: The process of mineral layers building outward in a spherical pattern.
    • Erosion: The natural wearing down of the host rock that eventually reveals concretions to hikers today.

    Where to Find Them:

    • Highbanks Metro Park (north of Columbus): This park is an excellent spot to find concretions. They are exposed along creek beds, banks, and within the shale rock walls. The Dripping Rock Trail near Lewis Center (9466 Columbus Pike) is particularly recommended for finding them. These concretions are often round or tubular; as well as having an orange, red, and brown hue from their iron content. While they may even contain ancient fossilized life forms.
    • Shale Hollow Park (Lewis Center, north of Columbus): Located at 6320 Artesian Run, this park features numerous concretions. These are described as round rock formations, visible in its 20- to 40-foot-tall shale cliffs and along the stream bed.
    • Milan-Monroeville Area: Large concretions, sometimes referred to as “Ohio Mystery Rocks,” have been found in the Monroeville-Milan area. Some of these can be quite massive, reaching the size of hot tubs or small cars. Septarian concretions, ranging from one to three feet in diameter, are also common about one mile west of Milan, where the Huron River cuts through the Ohio and Olentangy shales.
    • Metzger Preserve (Williamsport): This preserve harbors one of Ohio’s greatest concentrations of concretions, which can be found in Deer Creek.
    • Central Ohio Shale Outcrops: Generally, concretions are abundant in Ohio shale outcrops throughout central Ohio.
      Lancaster, Columbus, Bucyrus, and Heath: Concretions have also been discovered in these areas, often found underground, in yards, or in creeks.
    • Scioto Brush Creek, Paint A notable historical example is the “Footprint Rock” from Clinton County, which was believed to be a prehistoric artifact of the Mound Builders but was later identified by archaeologists as a natural concretion. This highlights a recurring theme where unusual natural formations are mistakenly attributed to human activity. belt of the Ohio Shale from Adams County north to Lake Erie, these rivers are good places to spot concretions.

    Native American Legends:

    What were at one time believed to be Native American grinding holes in Ohio, particularly in riverbeds, have been often times identified by geologists as natural weathered concretions.

    One notable historical example is the “A notable historical example is “Footprint Rock” from Clinton County. Originally this was believed to be a prehistoric artifact of the Mound Builders but, was later identified by archaeologists as a natural concretion.

    Though, some Native American legends, such as those surrounding Serpent Mound, suggest “egg-like stones” used to preserve spirits. These might be in reference to concretions. As well as the fact that concretions have also been found at ancient mound sites.

    Archaeological findings in places like Cuyahoga Valley, Ohio, include specific concretion artifacts that show signs of use, such as being processed for red pigment. Alluding to possible use for ceremonial purposes.

    Some concretions with concavities were also altered by Native Americans and found in fire pits, suggesting their use as tools or for other functions.

    Global Relatives:

    Ohio isn’t the only place where the earth decided to play with spheres. These concretions have cousins across the globe that prove how universal this natural process is:

    • Moeraki Boulders (New Zealand): Massive septarian concretions on a beach, tied to Maori legends of a wrecked voyaging canoe.
    • Koutu Boulders (New Zealand): Some of the largest concretions in the world, reaching up to 3 meters in diameter.
    • The Cannonball River (North Dakota): Giving the river its name due to the massive spherical stones lining the banks.

    Seeing these global connections reminds us that the “weird” rocks in a Adams County, Ohio’s creek are part of a planet-wide geological language.

    The Weight of What Remains:

    As we wrap up this hike through the geology and soul of Adams County, it’s clear that these spherical rocks are more than just obstacles on a trail. They are a testament to what happens when time, weather, and a little bit of “nucleus” come together to resist erosion.

    They are the survivors of the landscape , the parts of the mountain that refused to turn back into dust.

    We’ve covered the science of the Devonian sea, the specific trails of Southern Ohio, and the global family of spheres. These stones remind us that even the most “ordinary” hike can lead to a discovery that is millions of years in the making.

    Next time you’re out near Ohio’s Shale Outcrops, look for the orange-tinted curve of a sphere peeking through the mud. It may just be a piece of geological history waiting for you to notice it.

    TLDR:

    • Rockhounding Spots– I mapped out some of the best locations to find them, including Highbanks Metro Park and Shale Hollow.
    • Size & Scale: From golf ball-sized stones to massive “mystery rocks” the size of a small car.
    • Ancient Folklore: Investigating the legends of “Footprint Rock” and the “egg-like stones” used by the Mound Builders.
    • Global Connections: How Ohio’s boulders relate to famous formations like the Moeraki Boulders in New Zealand.
  • Writing Poetry that Non-Poetry Readers Love – The Ultimate Compliment:

    Writing Poetry that Non-Poetry Readers Love – The Ultimate Compliment:

    What was the best compliment you’ve received?

    Best for:

    Those reluctant to read poetry, those writing poetry, modern lyricists, indie publishers, & anyone who felt alienated by high-school English lit classes.

    THE VAULT:

    • Directness: Cutting through the pretentious sparkles to reach the honest bones of the issue.
    • Rhythmic Familiarity: Utilizing cadences that feel natural to modern ears, often blurring the line between prose, song, and verse.
    • Utility: Validating the reader’s feelings allowing them to feel included, and your writing to live in the hearts of the readers.

    Humbled by a Compliment:

    I have often found that the most profound validation doesn’t come from a textbook or a critic, but from the person who walks into the room claiming they never “got” the art form in the first place.

    When I am told that I write poems for people who don’t like poetry, it isn’t just a kind remark; it is a mission statement I never knew I needed. The compliment is about tearing down the walls that make literature feel like an exclusive club and replacing them with a front porch where the welcome mat is loudly announcing a greeting for everyone’s arrival.

    Redefining the Gateway to Verse:

    The statement “Axton writes poetry for people who claim to not like poetry” was more than a typical kind remark to me; it is a testament to a writer’s ability to dismantle the ivory tower of traditional literature.

    For many, the word poetry conjures images of dusty textbooks and impenetrable metaphors that require a secret decoder ring to understand. When a creative individual is identified as the bridge between that perceived elitism and the honest human experiences, they are no longer just a writer; they are a translator of the soul.

    This daily prompt response explores the structural and emotional layers of this compliment, detailing how accessible poetry for non-poets functions as a vital tool for community building.

    We will look at the mechanics of relatability, the subversion of academic expectations, and the specific ways this approach mirrors the impact of modern lyrical storytelling when it comes to writing poetry.

    Where Poetry tumbles like water through wild stone and silence in white text over green background and a man with blue flowers for a head- writing poetry

    The Power of Demystifying the Art Form of Writing Poetry:

    To demystify means to eliminate the mystifying features of something; To be the gateway poet means you have successfully stripped away the pretension that often gatekeeps the literary world.

    Instead of hiding behind archaic syntax, the individual’s creative work prioritizes the honesty of the emotion. This approach treats a poem like a conversation or a gut punch the reader actually feels, rather than an intellectual puzzle.

    By focusing on accessible poetry for non-poetry readers a writer validates the reader’s feelings without making readers feel uneducated for not spotting an obscure 18th-century reference.

    Why This Resonates as a Top Compliment When Writing Poetry:

    • Validation of Utility: It proves the work is being used by people as a survival tool, not just observed as an ornament.
    • Breaking the Barrier: It confirms that the writing is powerful enough to overcome deep-seated prejudices against the medium.

    Subverting Expectations Through Lyrical Grit:

    Most people who claim they hate poetry actually just hate feeling excluded and sometimes even uneducated. When they encounter work from those of us that are writing poetry that is irreverent, conversational, or even blunt, it shocks their system.

    This style of accessible poetry for non-poetry readers often shares its DNA with modern spoken word and real musical lyricism. This brings to mind the visceral storytelling found when we listen to artists like Ren or NF. It’s about the “lullaby and the riot” existing in the same space, making the reader realize that poetry can actually sound like them.

    Bridging the Gap to Build Community for those Writing Poetry & those Who Wish to Resonate:

    At its core, this compliment suggests that the poet is an architect of inclusion. By using direct language to tackle complex trauma, joy, or daily observation, the insider to writing poetry invites the “outsider” back into the artistic fold. This creates a shared vocabulary for those who previously felt they didn’t have the “right” to speak on art.

    Core Strengths of This Writing Style:

    • Directness: Cutting through the pretentious sparkles to reach the honest bones of the issue.
    • Rhythmic Familiarity: Utilizing cadences that feel natural to modern ears, often blurs the line between prose, song, and verse.

    The Impact of an Open Door:

    Writing accessible poetry for non-typical poetry readers is ultimately an act of creative advocacy. It turns a solitary, often exclusionary craft into a public square where everyone is welcome, regardless of their literary background.

    This philosophy doesn’t just change how people read, it changes how they view their own stories. This works at proving that the “complex human condition” doesn’t require complex jargon to be profoundly felt. By leaning into relatability and subverting the “boring” stereotype, a poet ensures their work lives in the hearts of the many rather than the libraries of the few.

    The Shared Goal:

    The ultimate goal of any creative person you would think, would be to resonate beyond the boundaries of their own niche.

    I work at this goal personally in my own craft by stripping away the academic barriers. In doing this I am able to connect with readers on an honest, authentic level that transcends the feelings of dread brought on by an English lit classroom .

    The compliment that my work is for the non-poetry reader is the highest honor I can receive because it means the message is louder than the medium.

    It confirms that when I write, I am not just creating art; I am creating a doorway for anyone who has ever felt left out of the conversation.

    TLDR:

    • Inclusivity: Accessible poetry dismantles the “ivory tower” and invites everyone to participate.
    • Lyrical Influence: The style mirrors the experience and honesty of modern musical storytelling that Ren & NF both use frequently.
    • Emotional Honesty: Using direct language turns poetry from an intellectual puzzle into a survival tool for the everyday person.

    Check out Some Poems:

    The Cost of Amber Forgiveness & the Stain
    Etsy Gumroad Payhip

  • Our Hike at Spring Valley Nature Preserve

    Our Hike at Spring Valley Nature Preserve

    Best for:

    Beginner geology geeks, local Ohio explorers, Ohio history lovers, and hikers looking for technical water crossings and rugged Ohio terrain.

    Trail Notes:

    Preserve sign at Spring Valley Nature Preserve positioned right in front of parking lot area in Granville, Ohio.
    • Trail Name & Location: Spring Valley Nature Preserve Proposal Trail, Roberts Ridge Trail, & Proposal Tree Trail in Granville, OH.
    • Duration & Distance: 1 hour and 35 minutes; 2.8 miles total.
    • Time & Temp: April 23rd, 2026, starting at 11:04 am approximately 70°F and finishing at 1:09 pm 82°F.
    • Route Taken: Take the same path as I did via the trailhead behind the picnic pavilion that connects the Valley Trail, Roberts Ridge, the Proposal Tree trail, and many others.
    • Key Conditions: Multiple creek crossings, some areas reaching knee-deep levels following recent rain.

    Spring Valley Nature Preserve

    Granville, Ohio

    The Hidden Hollows of Spring Valley Nature Preserve in Granville, Ohio:

    The field that is usually full of Ohio wildflowers by this time of the year is lined with trees yet contains only green grass growing currently (April 2026) at Spring Valley Nature Preserve.

    Spring Valley Nature Preserve in Granville, Ohio is one of my local favorites that feels like a secret. You pull into the parking lot past a cabin and a row of about four mailboxes. The first few times I visited I felt like I’d taken a wrong turn until the parking lot opened up, directly down the road.

    Usually, around this time I am greeted by a field of wildflowers right in front of the parking lot. I guess nature has its own schedule, and today there was no field. This trip was all about the rugged interior of the preserve. My nature journal on today’s trip to Spring Valley Nature Preserve breaks down my 2.8-mile trek through the Valley Trail and Roberts Ridge.

    April 23rd Trail Log- Roots, Ridges, and Rocks at Granville’s Spring Valley Nature Preserve:

    Our trek this morning began at 11:04 am, Kelsey had a manicure & pedicure planned, so Luna and I took advantage of the few hours we had at our disposal. Once I had parked the car we decided to head toward the picnic pavilion. There is a trailhead over behind this pavilion and next to a small wooden armchair; This is the way we typically end our normal loop here, but today we are trying a different section of the preserve.

    Brown & White APBT sits on a Wooden armchair in Granville, Ohio at Spring Valley Nature PreserveBrown & White APBT in pinka & blue snow shirt on wooden armchair at a Nature Preserve in the snow
    Same Place & Dog; Different Seasons.

    The Spring Valley Preserve looked fresh and joyous when compared to our last visit over last winter; the trails were buried in snow and someone had hilariously etched a giant penis into the fresh snow near where we decided to enter the trail today. The early April heat had already climbed toward 82°F. I noticed the storms from earlier in the week had left more fallen trees than usually present which honestly is just part of the natural selection and the cycle of life.

    large penis made by walking in the snow

    Navigating the Valley Trail, at Spring Valley Nature Preserve, we hit many creek crossings. While most were small and shallow still, the rain on Tuesday and Wednesday had turned the deeper sections into almost knee-deep obstacles. My rubber Croc Junipers were a lifesaver, as always they provided the grip of a hiking shoe while they handled the water with way more ease than a canvas shoe.

    Along the way, I spotted more of the tiny “waterfalls” I love to call transgender men waterfalls. As well the unique stream that was flowing directly through multiple tree’s root systems. There were also many sets of natural root-steps that created staircases throughout the Fern Gully Trail section of Spring Valley Nature Preserve. This added a unique feature for our late April visit. We also ran into our second switchback on Ohio trails this week.

    Between the switchbacks and the technical crossings, the trail kept the pace high and the energy intense.

    Mushrooms on a log in Spring Valley Nature Preserve

    The Squirrel Gauntlet: Teasing, Chirping, & Sprinting

    One constant trail buddy we had during this hike that were cute at first but, also almost led to my early demise, came by way of the relentless presence that a group of squirrels brought with them. They were with us almost every moment of our hike, safely causing chaos from the tree-tops high above the trail.

    A small tree trunk bent into a U shape over the trail at Spring Valley Nature Preserve in Granville, Ohio.

    These little assholes and attempted murderers darted from tree-top to tree-top while they made loud, chirping noises that sounded quite like an attempt from a mother to scold the entire Spring Valley Nature Preserve.

    After further research, I figured out that this behavior isn’t just random; squirrels use these calls as alarms and group them with tail-flicks to alert others to ground predators or in our case, to tease a high-energy dog. They seemed to intentionally wait until the last possible second to bolt up a trunk, or to purposefully jump tree-top to tree-top remaining out of her reach. This teasing of Luna continued to pique her interest in them as we moved through their territory.

    This game of tag nearly ended in disaster when Luna finally decided that she couldn’t ignore these squirrels anymore. Her best plan of action was to take off in a sprint, directly down the steepest hill on this loop. Of course pulling me right along for the adventure.

    Pink haired Caucasian man wearing black t-shirt and black sunglasses on trail in Spring Valley Nature Preserve with tan back pack straps showing.

    It was one of those moments where your brain just forces your body into action. With my head and shoulders leaned back as I sprinted at top speed to keep from face-planting, I managed to stay on my feet. An adrenaline packed reminder of how fast a situation can change when wildlife decides to get involved.

    The Industrial & Social History of Spring Valley Nature Preserve:

    This land in this preserve carries layers of Ohio’s history that predate the hiking trails. In the 1800s, Spring Valley Nature Preserve was a hub for salt production. The salt was boiled down and hauled to Lake Erie by Conestoga wagons.

    small stream lined by mini cliff made of shale in Spring Valley Nature Preserve

    By 1933, the Roberts family created the Spring Valley Pool, a massive spring-fed pool that was a family friendly destination. For over 70 years, locals swam in the green water. During World War 2 they even built a tower in the pool so soldiers could practice before being sent to war.

    Though the pool closed in 2004 due to financial issues, the legend of the Snog Monster from the deep end still exists. Today, though the pool is gone, the Licking Land Trust preserves landmarks like the Proposal Tree, which has seen over a century of local engagements.

    Geology & Rockhounding: Shale & Prehistoric Fossils:

    For a beginner or advanced rockhound looking to photograph and identify different geology specific to Ohio the creek beds here are a goldmine. Lined with small shale cliffs, heavy quartz, and iron-rich cherry to orange hued stones. One thing to mention is many of the rocks here showed those beautiful distinct water-line markings from decades of shifting water levels.

    large prehistoric fossil in shallow stream in Granville, Ohiolarge piece of iron on stream shore at Spring Valley Nature Preserve

    I was also able to document several pieces of stream-tumbled quartz and prehistoric marine fossils right on the shoreline. These remnants are typical for Ohio, deriving from ancient marine life, when Ohio was still a prehistoric tropical sea.

    This preserve is a place that allows you to enjoy a little caterpillar chilling on a leaf. While simultaneously realizing his only job (so to speak) is to choose the next leaf to hang out on. This is a vibe we should all strive for.

    Ohio Leash Laws & Trail Conflict:

    Hillside the dogs slid down on leash yet out of their owners hands

    The serenity of the hike was cut short by a couple with a large XL Bully as well as a mixed-breed dog off-leash. These two very smart individuals went sliding down what had to be a 75% angle hillside on their butts, on purpose. These smart individuals were also laughing and carrying on, taking their good old time coming down the hill. Completely oblivious to my reactive dog and I who had just crested the hill on the trail; while their dogs ran around the bottom out of their control leashes still attached to them.

    Letting their dogs go like that was unsafe to begin with, not to mention what could have happened to one of them had their loose leashes gotten snagged. which brings me to the leash law in Ohio, Ohio Revised Code § 955.22 is clear: owners must keep dogs under reasonable control. Which clearly isn’t how they were with their dogs running freely.

    After over ten minutes of making Luna sit patiently on my shoes I loudly asked “When do you plan on regaining control of your dogs so others can use the trail?” One person gathered the dogs and went down trail, while the other went to sit on the side of the stream; I gave them just shy of another ten minutes to get where they were going to go so we didn’t run into them again, or so I thought. All the while these people continued to act like no other dogs, people, or people scared of dogs existed but themselves.

    Brown & White APBT seated on owners Green and Orange shoe on trail

    Upon approaching the next bend in the trail we ran into this man and his two off leash dogs again. Audibly upset and rightfully so, I asked myself “Are you KIDDING ME?” I just happened to accidentally say it out loud. He responded by asking me if I had seen his girlfriend and pointed out her hair color, so I replied, “Near the bend in the creek.” I was also pointing my finger toward the area.

    I again gave him some time to collect his dogs and get going. Yet, Luna was going insane by this point, and I was confused as to why, until I turned around. About 5 feet away from us stood this man’s off-leash dog, and I was fit to be tied.

    Despite the smooching noises this man made from the creek, he had no control over his dogs multiple times, and they were not responding to the smooches. I never lost control of my dog, she was on a 6 foot lead I am able to wrap in short, sat between my legs, and my hand remained on her collar multiple times. If you can’t follow the leash law and respect other hikers as well as their dogs, you shouldn’t be on the trail.

    a man by a shallow stream attempting to leash his off leash grey and black dogs despite Ohio's leash law

    As I dragged Luna down trail I yelled “Ohio Has a fucking leash-law for a reason!”

    I’m sorry but, people have got to stop acting like they are the only individuals to exist in the world, the entitlement and audacity of some people still shocks me.

    The Plop-Plop Reality of Wet Shoes, Roots, & My Route:

    We ended up finishing the trek with a 2.8-mile loop at 1:09 pm. By the end of our mid-afternoon hike the cool 70°F starting temperature had hit a humid 82°F. Hiking the loop we took on April 23rd, at Spring Valley Nature Preserve was an exercise that tests your endurance while it also allowed me to regain appreciation for the more technical side of Ohio’s geography.

    From the roots that crossed our paths on Fern Gully Trail to the history of the old pool that may have contained a Snog Monster, this preserve offered me a real chance at connecting with Licking County’s landscape. Even with soaked shoes that plop-plop, knee-deep creek crossings, and the frustration of off-leash encounters, the interior remains one of the most unique and rewarding treks in the Granville, Ohio area.

    pink haired Caucasian man in black glasses, black shirt, and grey shorts kneels at the stream with a brown and white APBT
    Smiling brown and White APBT in blue collar on a yellow leash stands next to a shale cliff in a shallow stream
    brown and White APBT in blue collar on a yellow leash stands next to a shale cliff near a shallow stream
    Caucasian tattooed hand holding a cigar above a shale lined shallow stream
    Spring Valley Nature Preserve Trail Sign
    Spring Valley Nature Preserve Trail Sign
    Fairy house hole in the base of a oak tree surrounded by spring growth
    brown and White APBT in blue collar on a yellow leash stands on tree roots on trail
    brown and White APBT in blue collar on a yellow leash stands mid trail
    Trees and branches grow over the trail creating a canopy
    Spider web in a hole in the center of a fallen tree

    TLDR

    the caterpillar that got me thinking sits on a green leaf

    A 1-hour and 35-minute technical look at our trek covering 2.8 miles through Spring Valley Nature Preserve, which was once a historic salt-production in the 1800s and eventually became a pool from the 1930’s until 2004 before becoming a nature preserve. Expect at least one knee-deep water crossing, prehistoric aquatic fossils, and root staircases.

    This hike demands your undivided attention, or you may miss the key details it offers those who pay-up. Keep your dog on a leash these trails like many others in Ohio enforce Ohio’s leash laws and respect for them amidst the backcountry in Granville, Ohio.

    Spring Valley Nature Preserve shallow stream that runs through the root systems of many trees

    Plan Your Trip:

    Spring Valley Nature Preserve– AllTrails
    Explore Licking County- Spring Valley
    Spring Valley Nature Preserve– Explore Granville
    Our Winter Trip- Spring Valley

    Let Me Know:

    Comments, Questions, Concerns?

    Feedback?

  • What’s the point? A Hot Take on USA’s Broken Election System:

    What’s the point? A Hot Take on USA’s Broken Election System:

    Do you vote in political elections?

    Best for:

    Political citizens who have had enough, skeptical voters, independent researchers, and civics educators studying low voter turnout.

    The Vault:

    • The primary system empowers a tiny, radical minority over the general electorate.
    • The Electoral College mathematically dilutes individual votes, creating “safe seats” and swing-state supremacy.
    • Structural barriers like gerrymandering and voter ID laws are eroding the Voting Rights Act’s protections.
    • Non-citizen voting fraud is statistically rare; the focus on it adds friction for legitimate voters.

    Federal Elections:

    The decision to abstain from federal elections is rarely an indication of laziness, lack of information, or done because the individual just doesn’t care. For many US citizens, it is a calculated, rational response to our broken election system. When the fabric of our democracy no longer acts to warm the policies to meet with the will of the people, our participation begins to feel less like civic duty and more like a performance review.

    Why bother with completing a review if the administration disregards the ratings that aren’t showing them in a good-light. My reflection today expands on these feelings . I will focus on moving past the typical generic “go vote” platitudes to explore the fabric of the Electoral College and gerrymandering, both of which act at validating the desire to sit out the big game.

    The Illusion of Choice-

    How Primaries Rig the Game:

    Before a general election even begins, the outcome is often already determined. We are told that November is the main event, but in reality, the broken election system has already decided the winner months earlier. Currently, an estimated 80% of Senate races and 90% of House races are effectively decided during the party primaries.

    Here is the math that breaks democracy:

    • Low Turnout: Primaries draw a fraction of general election voters.
    • Extreme Ideologies: The voters who do show up tend to be the most radical partisans.
    • Exclusion: Millions of independent voters are locked out of these closed contests entirely.

    Consequently, the politicians chosen to run typically do not need to or even try to appeal to the majority of Americans. They only need to survive a challenge from their extreme flank. Ask yourself why we often see representatives who refuse to hold town halls?

    Your answer is found in a safe seat. Did you know 91% of districts are non-competitive? This means that there is zero political risk for ignoring the general public and a total risk citizens who chose to defying the party base. This is a system that rewards obstruction and punishes compromise, leaving the average voter without a meaningful candidate to support in the fall.

    Your Vote Might Not Count-

    Here is why:

    Beyond the primary problem lies the mathematical reality of the Electoral College. Proponents argue it protects small states, but the data actually suggests the opposite. This “protection” turns most of the country into political flyover territory. Meaning that under our current broken election system, a voter in Wyoming has roughly four times the mathematical power of a voter in California.

    Of course the candidates do not campaign for votes; they campaign for electoral college math. This leads to a scenario where a candidate can lose the national popular vote, the aggregate will of the people and, yet they can still somehow win the presidency. This has been seen in two of the last seven elections.

    Even more disheartening is the research that suggests a coordinated group of roughly 10,000 people relocating across state lines could sway a 1% probability in a national election. If the system is so sensitive to small manipulation and blind to the majority, does this not make the rational citizen ask“Why bother?”

    Administrative Burdens-

    Death by a Thousand Cuts:

    Which leads us to the next issue we need to address, the physical act of voting. As if to prove that our election system is broken by design, the United States has achieved its goal of making voting harder than almost any other democracy. Ask yourself why have we moved backward from the protections of the Voting Rights Act?

    The Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder opened the floodgates for states to implement restrictive measures. These aren’t just theories; they are documented tactics;

    • Voter Roll Purges: Remove registered voters for minor administrative issues.
    • Polling Place Closures: Specifically in minority and lower-income neighborhoods, creating “food deserts” of democracy.
    • Burdensome ID Laws: While the specter of widespread non-citizen voting is frequently cited to justify these laws, the data shows it is extremely rare. Instead, these laws disenfranchise the 21 million Americans who are disproportionately poor, young, and rural that lack easy access to a birth certificate or passport.
    • The April 2026 ruling in Merrill v. Milligan II, further weakened the Voting Rights Act by allowing states to keep maps that split minority communities unless intentional malice is proven. This makes it nearly impossible to challenge gerrymandered districts.

    When you combine all the threads of democracy in USA you get to see a system that ignores its citizens political voice (also known as gerrymandering), while it works to diminishes our vote (Electoral College), and physically obstructs our access (voter ID). At the end of this we are left with nothing more than a product that is failing its consumers.

    TLDR:

    The broken election system doesn’t need more voters; it needs a hard reset. Until structural fixes are implemented for things like the National Popular Vote, Gerrymandering, and Voter Id laws abstaining isn’t laziness. This is the only logical response to the illusion of choice USA’s government paints where politicians pick their voters, not the other way around.

    Some Deeper Reading:

    Letters from a Fragmented Democracy– The California Review

    Dismantling the Myth of Voter Apathy– The Hill

    Electoral College Opinion Piece– NewsWeek

    Increase in safe seats brings a decrease in effective democracy– Overby Center

    Compliance– Transgender Legislation forecast for 2026

    Let Me Know:

    Feedback?

    Comments, Questions, Concerns?

  • Perry State Forest The Rugged Trek – Chasing Butterflies & Pine Shadows:

    Perry State Forest The Rugged Trek – Chasing Butterflies & Pine Shadows:

    Best for:

    Backcountry enthusiasts seeking seclusion, photographers chasing late-afternoon Golden Hour light, and hikers who prefer rugged, unmanicured trails over paved park paths.

    The Untamed Allure of Somerset’s Backyard:

    While many flock to the highly curated paths of local Metro Parks, and the vast views of places like Hocking Hills there is a visceral, real woodland vibe found within the boundaries of Perry State Forest.

    Caucasian man in jeans, black t-shirt, and green & orange croc junipers walks towards the camera with a brown pit bull in Perry State Forest.Man in jeans, black t-shirt, black backwards hat, tan pack walks brown Pitbull Away From camera in Perry State Forest

    This nature journal looks at our a secondary trek on April 21st, a deep-dive into the 4,500-acre expanse that is Perry State Forest. You may find it feels significantly more wild than its nearby counterpart, Wayne National Forest.

    Our journey explores the rugged terrain near Somerset, Ohio, that offered a spiritual connection that more manicured parks sometimes find trouble replicating.

    The Transition from Lakeside to Pine Forest:

    No Unauthorized Vehicles in black font on white sign hanging on orange metal gate in front of clearing to black trail Perry State Forest

    Luna and I began our excursion at the unmarked gravel lot right beside Miles Lake, just after 4pm. This day’s 2 trips into the wilderness, were more significant than my usual hikes on a personal level; I had an extra day off this week

    Walking past the “No unauthorized motor vehicles” sign and leaving the stillness of Miles Lake behind, we saw the trail quickly shed its width in favor of a dense, shaded canopy.

    Green water, grass, spring growth of foliage on Miles Lake Perry State Forest with blue skies in the background.

    The transition into the pine sections of the forest altered the atmosphere entirely; the ground became a carpet of brown needles, that muffled our footfalls. While the density of the pine trees’ cast a dark shadowed effect off in the distance, even though the sun was high.

    This specific section of Perry State Forest feels like stepping into an almost cinematic landscape. A landscape seemingly existing somewhere eternally draped in the beauty of midsummer. The contrast of the dark treeline against the piercing afternoon sun highlights a side of Ohio that is often underestimated.

    Wildflowers & Butterfly Encounters:

    The spring season in Perry County brings a vibrant display of flora that offsets the shadows cast by their neighboring pine trees. The vibe they added was impressive.

    The yellow butterflies from the past few hikes continued our game of cat and mouse by following me around, on our hike here too. Again here they seem to bring along one black and white spotted butterfly pal. If you haven’t read the last few hiking entries, my mom used to tell me loved ones come back to you as butterflies, and now these first few spring hikes I seem to have made some friends.

    Mushroom with a bulb top, white in color, on the Floor of Perry State Forest with other forest foliage
    fungi growing on stick among the foliage on the floor at Perry State Forest
    The view of the Forest from ground level, brown leaves, pine needles, tree stumps, green tops, and blue skies
    White flower up close bloom with out-of-focus Forest background
    Mushroom on the Pery State Forest Floor
    Golden Ragwort at Perry State Forest grows in a field of green
    Tree Blooms in white and pinks at Perry State Forest
    Green leaves and stems grow among brown twigs and sticks
    Dogwood tree at Perry State Forest
    May-apple in bloom with green Caterpillar inside flower petals

    Key sightings included:

    • Fleabane: Often mistaken for daisies, these delicate, fringed flowers stand as lonely sentinels along the path.
    • Flowering Trees: Dogwoods trees showed off their white and pink “blossoms.” Though they are actually bracts, or modified leaves with distinct pink-tipped petals. I noted another beautiful tree bloomed with white clusters of almost star-shaped flowers and slightly fuzzy young leaves. Known as a Serviceberry (also known as Shadbush). They are some of the first trees to bloom in the Ohio woods each spring.
    • Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)- A forest floor umbrella that keeps its secrets tucked underneath. While the plant itself is toxic to humans (containing podophyllotoxin), the “apple” that develops later in summer is a favorite snack for Eastern Box Turtles, who help spread the seeds.

    Geology & One Huge Rock-

    The large rock structure at the bottom of a ravine in Perry State Forest

    Where the trail descends toward the intersection of the Black and Blue trails, the geology of the region takes center stage. The surprise view at the bottom of the ravine has to be the massive sandstone outcroppings typical of the Appalachian Plateau.

    These formations are the result of millions of years of erosion, carving out deep gorges that stay cooler than the surrounding ridges.

    The ruggedness of these rocks mirrors the resilience of the local landscape, offering a sense of permanence and home to those who find beauty in the shadows.

    Navigating the Terrain- Perry State Forest:

    A view up at the tops of growing spring trees and the sunlight shining in

    As the trail progressed past the intersection of the Black trail, the path thinned into an almost invisible tiny dirt line. We were welcomed to Perry State Forest hiking at its most authentic. Unlike the manicured trails of suburban parks, these paths require active engagement with the environment.

    • Distance Awareness: While the loop is extensive, doing pieces or parts of it can still result in a 4-mile or more trek.
    • Unmarked Trails: I knew the name of the lake, trails, and where the path actually was at times thanks to AllTrails.

    History of Perry State Forest:

    Brown and orange toned butterfly flying over brown dead leaves in Perry State Forest

    Perry State Forest is a testament to land reclamation. Once heavily strip-mined for coal, the area was repurposed by the Ohio Division of Forestry to create a multi-use outdoor space. The rugged feeling here was a direct result of a land forced to healed itself, creating the unique topography of terrain seen on our visit.

    The Rugged Soul:

    Brown and white pit bull dozing off in the sunlight sitting in the front seat of a car with grey and black interior.

    When Luna and I returned to the lot near Miles Lake we wrapped up our day with approximately 8.8 miles under our belts. The walk back to Miles Lake served as a reminder that Ohio’s beauty isn’t always found in the vast, open views, or viral Hocking Hills reels; It’s found in the shadowed lines of pines, the overgrown dirt paths, and the silence of a ravine.

    Perry State Forest doesn’t just offer a place to walk; it offers a place to feel a sense of wild seclusion that stays with you long after the sun goes down.

    Whether it’s the trail lined by Ohio wildflowers or the giant sandstone rock, it offered us one of the last almost local places that has yet to be tamed.

    Plan Your Trip:

    Oh Dept. of Natural Resources

    Discover Perry County

    All Trails

    Add Nearby Hikes:

    Glenford Preserve & Mambourg

    Let Me Know:

    Comments, Questions, Concerns?

    Feedback?

  • The Echoes of Gunfire; 56-Year Fall- Kent State to our New Normal

    The Echoes of Gunfire; 56-Year Fall- Kent State to our New Normal

    Best For:

    Individuals sick of the “mass shooting at a school” headline, advocacy groups, investigative journalists, seekers of change in legislation, and survivors of institutional failure.

    The Vault:

    • The Predator Paradox: Proponents of arming staff ignore that educators already run the risk of being part of a demographic with documented rates of physical and sexual misconduct against minors.

    • The Myth: Research confirms media does not cause mass shootings; Japan and South Korea typically consume more violent media than the U.S. Yet, they have near-zero school shooting incidents.

    • Security Theater Failure: Since Columbine, billions of dollars have been spent on bulletproof glass and clear backpacks, yet the shooting rate has quadrupled. Hardening works against outsiders, but it is useless against the “insider” student.

    The United States #1 Issue:

    We have spent way too many years pretending that the solution to school violence is a matter of architecture and armor. Since the gunfire stopped raining down on the commons at Kent State, the national response has somehow devolved into a multi-billion dollar “Security Theater.” This treats the children of this country like targets and our schools like bunkers inside the modern day war zone.

    To truly honor the history of this day, we must look just beyond the metal detectors and armed resource officers to confront the uncomfortable, systemic rot just below the surface.

    This journal is a deep dive into the data of school shootings from 1970 to 2026. I am aiming at shedding light on why arming teachers is a predator’s dream, tactical “hardening” fails against the insider shooter, and how the only true path to safety lies in a radical new era of parental accountability and behavioral intervention.

    Kent State – 1970:

    Fifty-six years ago, on May 4, 1970, the world stood still. Four students at Kent State University all unarmed, protesting, and seeking a voice, were shot dead by the Ohio National Guard. It was a moment of national fracture that triggered the only nationwide student strike in U.S. history.

    Today, is Monday, May 4, 2026, and the United States citizens no longer stop when our news outlets show a new school shooting in the headlines. We live in a landscape where the “shock” of school violence has been replaced by a grim, repetitive statistical drumbeat.

    We have moved from a society horrified by a near singular tragedy to one that is increasingly callous, disconnected, and armored against the next inevitable headline. For an Ohioan today, “May the Fourth” isn’t a sci-fi celebration; it’s an anniversary of blood on concrete and a reminder that for over half a century, the target has simply moved from university activists to now include all levels of education including toddlers in preschools.

    In Memoriam – The Kent State Four and the Wounded:

    At 12:24 p.m. today, the Victory Bell rang at the Kent State Commons. We do not just honor a date; we honor students who were robbed of their futures by the very authority figures tasked with their safety.

    • Allison Krause (19): An honors student who believed “Flowers are better than bullets.“
    • Jeffrey Miller (20): Instantly lost his life, while standing over 250 feet away from the Guard line.
    • Sandra Scheuer (20): An honors student walking to a speech therapy class; she wasn’t even part of the protest.
    • William Schroeder (19): An Eagle Scout and ROTC student caught in the crossfire while walking between classes.

    We also remember the survivors:

    Alan Canfora, John Cleary, Thomas Grace, Dean Kahler (paralyzed), Joseph Lewis, Donald Mackenzie, James Russell, Robert Stamps, and Douglas Wrentmore. Their lives were some of the first pieces of evidence from a system that chooses tactical escalation over the preservation of student life.

    The Evolution of the Target:

    The scope of this crisis is now the growing death and destruction total. In 1970, mass violence on campus was a political anomaly.

    As of April 30th, 2026, there have already been 134 mass shootings in the U.S. this year a violent epidemic that bleeds directly into our classrooms. In 2025, there were 233 K-12 incidents and 64 higher education shootings.

    The callousness setting into our national psyche is a survival mechanism against an explosion of the frequency in school shootings, We have normalized the idea that a child in school needs a bulletproof insert in their backpack. This is the same progressive rot moving through every level of education.

    While the demographics of perpetrators are always shifting with university shooters often being older and motivated by different grievances; the mechanical failure is identical: the presence of a firearm where it should never have been.

    The Myth of the Screen vs. the Reality of a Lock:

    Blaming violence in video games, books, movies, or other violent media is a 56-year-old deflection. The facts around the causes has remained the same: there is no causal link between media and criminal violence.

    If you look at countries like Japan and South Korea who consume more violent media than the U.S. but have near-zero school shootings. You see the variable actually exists when you look at the reality of the unsecured firearm.

    Roughly 80% of K-12 shooters obtain the weapons they go on to use in school shootings from the home they live in or the home of a family member. This is a fundamental breach of the expectations that exists inside the parent-child relationship. The parent is supposed to be fully responsible for their child’s safety.

    If a gun case is locked but a child knows where the key is, or if the safe lacks multi-point biometric logs, that lock might as well not exist. To suggest a child doesn’t know how to use a key is a lethal misunderstanding. The year 2026 seems to be one that aims to mark a turning point where “parental neglect” in school shootings is being reclassified as Second-Degree Murder.

    Charging parents who are “willfully blind” to their child’s crisis and access to firearms as seen in the landmark cases in Michigan and Georgia. This is the only policy move currently working at shifting the needle.

    The Lethal Power Imbalance – Sexual Misconduct and the Armed Teacher:

    The people who wish to arm teachers clearly ignore the reality of the creepy male teacher being armed. Handing a gun to school staff doesn’t just create a “shield,” it creates a lethal power imbalance in a demographic that already proves a documented risk.

    Statistics consistently show that school staff and educators are responsible for high rates of physical and sexual misconduct against minors. So if we go and hand them a firearm, are we not potentially arming predators? This essentially hands children over to the armed predator to have an even easier access point.

    Congratulations!! Under this proposal the students who were already vulnerable to sexual abuse at school now face an authority figure who is not only a gatekeeper to their education but is also equipped with lethal force. This makes reporting abuse or resisting a predator nearly impossible.

    To further expand black and brown students, who already face disproportionate force and perceived-threat bias from staff, an armed protector is just another source of violence. Hardening a school doesn’t fix a predator; it just makes them more dangerous.

    Schools As Security Theaters Our Aftermath of The Columbine Legacy:

    Columbine (1999) birthed the multi-billion dollar “security theater” industry. We’ve spent decades on bulletproof glass, back-pack bullet shields, metal detectors, clear backpacks, and more. Still, the shooting rate has quadrupled.

    Hardening a building doesn’t work against a shooter that’s an “insider.” If the student already has the code and knows which doors don’t latch how do these things work? The short answer is they don’t. If the student knows the code and the lockdown spot because they sat through the same drill, the theater isn’t just useless… it becomes a roadmap for the shooter.

    94% of shooters share their intent beforehand through “leakage.” Mandatory peer learning classes that teach students to “spy” on one another often backfire, creating suspicion rather than support.

    The real solution is Behavioral Threat Assessment, identifying the “isolated loner” who is actually a threat and providing intervention before the plan turns into action. It another means of treating suicidality as the emergency. This phenomenon affects nearly 100% of university shooters. These shootings are typically driven by a final act of self-destruction.

    Reclaiming Our Freedom:

    To be truly free is to be able to learn without being afraid there’s a target on your back. The data in 2026 shows that the only path forward is Accountability.

    We must hold gun owning parents and other family members strictly liable for their weapons. While we aim at treatment for students who are self-isolating and fall under other risky-demographics as an emergency.

    I hope you took a moment today to honor Kent State. The way we continue to honor the victims of these senseless acts is to stop treating our schools and universities like war zones; we need to start treating them like the learning institutions and communities they actually are.

    We have the statistics and the data from the last 56-years.

    We just need the guts to act on them.

    TLDR:

    The “Security Theater” our learning institutions have become has failed and is still failing to stop the growth of school shootings since 1970. Arming staff introduces the risk of errors and creates a lethal power imbalance for students already vulnerable to sexual abuse and unfair bias.

    The only evidence-based solutions in 2026 are holding parents criminally liable for unsecured weapons and utilizing Behavioral Threat Assessments to identify “leakage” before a student reaches the moment they place their finger on the trigger.

  • Mainstream Media Silence – Artists Like Peachkka & Doechii Fight Back

    Mainstream Media Silence – Artists Like Peachkka & Doechii Fight Back

    Best for:

    Survivors of systemic abuse, indie music fans who value deep activism, social justice advocates, and writers seeking to dismantle the “Epstein elite” narrative.

    The vault:

    • Systemic Reckoning: Exposing how mainstream media acts as a buffer for the “Epstein elite,” using curated silence to protect predators and maintain access to high-society power.
    • Sacred Mother Activism: Exploring Peachkka’s “Fertilizer” as a spiritual and visceral strike that reclaims authority for survivors and strips away the unearned status of “somebody” winners.
    • The Puppet Show Critique: Analyzing Earth To Eve’s “THREAT LEVEL ORANGE” as a tactical protest against the fascist structures and mainstream distractions that hide the “straw man” behind the curtain.
    • Platform Responsibility: Highlighting Doechii’s refusal to play it safe, using national award stages to stand for trans lives and bridge the gap between underground fire and industry defiance.

    The Empire Ran by Oppression:

    In a world where the Empire is built on curated silence and backroom deals, the most dangerous weapon is a voice that refuses to be bought. For way, too long, the mainstream media has acted as a buffer for the powerful, ignoring the names on the lists and the “twisted liars” at high-society dinners to maintain their own access.

    Never fear, the frequency is shifting. We are seeing a new wave of artists, some blowing up in the underground scene and others using their first major spotlights, to send a Sacred Fire through the structures that protected the Epstein elite.

    This isn’t a simple review; it’s a deep dive into the transmutation of rage. We are bridging the gap between the lo-fi invocations of Peachkka, the unfiltered protest of Earth To Eve, and the national defiance of Doechii. These artists prove that whether you are an underground artists in the woods or a “somebody” on an award stage, your responsibility remains the same: to act as a Sacred Mother to the oppressed and to turn the predators of the world into fertilizer for a better future.

    Peachkka Reclaiming the Sacred Mother:

    The song “Fertilizer” by Peachkka is a masterclass in independent activism. It’s a track that demands to be played on a loop, but not just for its infectious rhythm.

    It is a direct, visceral strike against the systemic rot of the Epstein elite. While the “somebodies” are terrified of losing their seats at the table, Peachkka is busy setting the table on fire.

    Removing the Blinders of the Elite

    The lyrics are a reckoning. By naming the “dinners” and the “winners” who built their empires on the backs of the vulnerable, she removes the blinders that the mainstream media works so hard to keep in place.

    • The Goal: To strip away the unearned status of predators.
    • The Result: Returning them to the dirt, where they finally serve a purpose as nutrients for growth.

    The Call for Divine Protection:

    Beyond the critique, Peachkka moves into a rhythmic invocation of protection. By calling upon “Sacred Mothers,” she is reclaiming a spiritual authority that has been stolen from survivors.

    This isn’t just music; it’s a shield. She is sending a frequency of safety to those who were hurt while the Epstein Elite Empire looked the other way.

    Threat Level Orange- The Unified Front Against Tyranny:

    When we look at Earth To Eve and the track “THREAT LEVEL ORANGE,” we see the same type of “underground” artist taking on a faceless “somebody.”

    These two artists are operating as a unified front against the same monster. If Peachkka is the spiritual fire, Earth To Eve is the tactical protest.

    Beyond the Puppet Show:

    The mainstream media often presents a “puppet show” of free speech while actively controlling what we are allowed to hear.

    Earth To Eve calls this out directly, addressing the “fascist puppet show” and the tyrants who expect us to bow.  

    • Mainstream Media Silence: They focus on the distractions to keep you from the truth.
    • Independent Artist Activism: They use the “Sacred Fire” to expose the “straw man” behind the curtain.

    The Doechii Standard- Using the Big Break to Throw Down:

    It’s one thing for an underground artists to scream into the void, but it’s another for an artist to reach the top and refuse to forget where they came from. Doechii has set a new standard for what it means to have a platform.

    Standing for Trans Lives on the National Stage:

    During the 2025 BET Awards and the GLAAD Media Awards, Doechii used her first major “big breaks” to do something the industry hates: she made people uncomfortable with the truth.

    She didn’t just thank her label; she called out the “ruthless attacks” on trans people and the LGBTQ+ community.


    “I feel it’s my responsibility as an artist to use this moment to speak up for all oppressed people.”

    -Doechii

    A Platform is a Responsibility:

    Doechii’s defiance bridges the gap. She proves that the Sacred Mother energy doesn’t just belong in the underground.

    Whether it’s standing up for Black, Latino, or trans lives, her message is a mirror to Peachkka’s: the “Empire” is expiring because we are no longer afraid to speak.

    Transmutation- From Pain to Power:

    The ultimate theme connecting these artists is transmutation. Taking the “pain and the hurt,” “the “wicked ways” we’ve been forced to endure, and turning it into fertilizer.

    Why “Love and Light” Isn’t Enough:

    As Peachkka says, “Love and light is for beginners.” To truly dismantle the Epstein elite and the systems that protect them, we have to be willing to look at the dirt. We have to be willing to be “the fire” that cleanses the rot.

    Growing from the Dirt:

    We cannot wait for the mainstream media to give us permission to be outraged. They are the guardians of the very Epstein Elite Empire that is expiring.

    The real protection for survivors doesn’t come from a news anchor; it comes from the independent writer, those working underground, and the artist who uses their award speech to defend the vulnerable.

    From the “Sacred Mother” protection in Peachkka’s lyrics to the “responsibility” voiced by Doechii, the message is clear: the blinders are off. We are the ones who decide who is a “winner” and who is “fertilizer.”

    By standing together, we ensure that the “twisted liars” are returned to the earth and that the next generation grows in a soil that is finally clean.

    TLDR:

    Mainstream Media Silence is an expiration notice for the Elite Empire built on oppression. From the lo-fi invocations of Peachkka to the national stage presence of Doechii, a new wave of artists is refusing to be bought, turning systemic rage into a “Sacred Fire.”

    By rejecting the industry’s “love and light” bullshit and looking directly at the rot, these artists are transforming predators into fertilizer for a better future.

    The blinders are off, we are the ones who decide who gets a seat at the table and who gets returned to the dirt.

    Let me know:

    Feedback?

    Comments, Questions? Concerns?

  • The Cost of Survival- Seeking Love Over Education:

    The Cost of Survival- Seeking Love Over Education:

    Write about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently?

    Best for:

    Creative writers, people healing from a lack of self-worth, readers enjoy writers who share vulnerable personal histories, and anyone feeling “behind” in their life’s timeline.

    The Vault:

    • The Survival Paradox: Why living in “survival mode” sidelines long-term investments like education in favor of immediate emotional rewards and external validation.
    • The Biological Shield: Understanding how a perceived lack of future leads to “triaging pain” rather than building a career, fueled by the hope that love would resolve an internal identity crisis.
    • Sequential Growth: Why the “lost years” were a mandatory period of preparation, proving that we weren’t ready for the stability of 2021 until we survived the 20 years of longing that preceded it.
    • The Butterfly Effect of Regret: Acknowledging that “correcting” the past would erase the foundation of your present happiness, making self-forgiveness a logical necessity for healing.

    The Weight of the Unwritten Future:

    Looking back at our lives through the lens of a 19-plus years can be a jarring experience. When we are young, we are often told that the world is our oyster, yet for many, the world feels more like a storm to be weathered.

    Almost 20 years ago, I didn’t take action on my education or my career trajectory. To put it quite simply, I didn’t think I would have a future to use them in. My focus wasn’t on a GPA; it was on a desperate, singular search for someone to love me.

    At the time, I viewed this as a failure of ambition. I felt like I was drifting while others were docking. However, looking back from the vantage point of the life I began building in 2021, I realize that my lack of action wasn’t laziness; it was a biological response to a perceived lack of time. I also was under the impression I would somehow magically become someone who liked being a woman, or better yet even, felt like a woman, and my whole life would fall in line the moment I found someone to love me.

    In this deep-dive, we’re going to deconstruct the survival mode and future planning paradox, exploring how the search for external love is often a shield for internal instability, and why our “lost years” might have actually saved us.

    Understanding Survival Mode and Future Planning:

    When we don’t see a future for ourselves, we stop building for one. There is a specific psychological exhaustion that comes from living without a long-term map.

    Psychology suggests that when an individual operates in a state of chronic stress or hopelessness, their brain’s prefrontal cortex, known to be the area responsible for executive function, is effectively sidelined by the amygdala.

    This state, often referred to as survival mode, narrows our vision to the immediate now.

    Education and career goals are long-term investments; they require a belief that we will be around to collect the interest. Conversely, love and validation are immediate emotional rewards. Nineteen years ago, chasing love wasn’t a distraction… it was a survival tactic to make the present moment endurable, and a delusion that my purpose would follow.

    We weren’t ignoring our potentials; we were triaging our pain.

    The Paradox of the Timeline:

    There is a profound irony in wishing we knew of our current peace sooner. We often think, “If I had only known then what I know now,” but the truth is that we weren’t the people yet who could hold that knowledge. The timeline of our lives isn’t a straight line; it’s a series of layers.

    • Growth is Sequential: The love and stability I finally established in 2021 required the almost perfect 20 years of trial, error, and longing that preceded it.
    • The Readiness Factor: If I had found “the one” or the “perfect career” back then, I likely would have been too unformed to sustain it. The delay wasn’t just a loss of time; it was a period of mandatory preparation.

    As we move from the “why” of our past choices to the “what now,” we have to look at how these choices ripple outward into our current reality.

    The Butterfly Effect of Regret:

    The concept of the Butterfly Effect implies that small changes in initial conditions can lead to vast differences in later outcomes. If we had taken action on our education, and futures the “us” of today would be a stranger.

    • The Alternate Version: I might be a different person altogether, in a different city, but I would also have a different soul.
    • The Present Value: By wishing away the “distractions” or the “wasted years” of our past, we inadvertently wish away the foundations of our present happiness.

    Forgiving your younger self isn’t just a nice sentiment; it’s a logical necessity. That version of ourselves was a pioneer walking through a dark, unknown forest without a map. We chose the path that kept us moving, even if it wasn’t the most efficient route to the sandstone mansions of the future.

    Integrating the Past into the Present:

    Moving forward doesn’t mean ignoring the time we think we “wasted.” Instead, it means integrating those experiences into a narrative of resilience.

    We didn’t just “fail to take action” on our education; we successfully navigated a period of life where we didn’t think we would survive. That is an achievement in itself.

    The “future” we couldn’t see years ago is the very air we are breathing right now.

    While it’s tempting to mourn the degrees not earned or the time spent chasing the wrong hearts, those detours were the very things that kept us on the road long enough to reach the present.

    You are not “behind” in life; We are exactly where our survival required us to be.

    TLDR:

    The Cost of Survival explores the heavy weight of the “unwritten future” and why choosing love over education wasn’t a failure of ambition, but a survival tactic.

    When you don’t believe you’ll be around to see a future, you stop building for one.

    Looking back from the peace found in 2021, it’s clear those “wasted” years were actually spent navigating a forest without a map. You aren’t behind in life; you are simply breathing in the very future you once thought was impossible to reach.

    See for Yourself:

    The London Psychiatry Center: Survival Mode

    The Decision Lab: The Butterfly Effect

    National Institute of Health: Hopelessness & Future Thinking

    Let me know:

    Comments, questions, or concerns?

    Feedback?

  • Escaping Toxicity- My Risky Move & New Life After Abuse:

    Escaping Toxicity- My Risky Move & New Life After Abuse:

    Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

    Best for:

    Men seeking experiences like their own after domestic violence, individuals navigating grief during major life pivots, and those looking for the courage to leave a toxic environment.

    The Vault:

    • The Anatomy of a Life-Saving Risk: Why leaving a toxic environment is a high-stakes gamble that requires choosing a terrifying unknown over a familiar, violent hell.
    • The Unspoken Struggle: Breaking the silence on domestic violence against men, addressing the isolation, “provider guilt,” and physical warfare that society often ignores.
    • Converging Crises: Navigating the “fog-clearing” moment when grief for a dying parent intersects with the realization that a partner’s lack of support is the final breaking point.
    • The Rebuilding Gamble: Moving two hours away into a clean slate, not to hide, but to prove you can exist, pay bills, and find peace without the constant threat of violence.

    Choosing the Unknown Over a Familiar Hell:

    The Anatomy of a Life-Saving Risk

    When we talk about taking a risk, we usually think of a career change or a financial investment. We rarely frame the act of leaving a relationship or your hometown as a high-stakes gamble. However, when that relationship has become a space of physical and emotional warfare, and you’re reminded of your deceased mother everywhere you look in town, walking away is the most self-preserving risk a person can take.

    A close-up selfie of Kelsey and Axton tucked closely together, smiling warmly at the camera. Kelsey wears glasses and a black t-shirt, leaning their head against him. Behind them, several framed pieces of traditional American tattoo art hang on a grey wall. Both appear at ease, capturing the "light at the end of the tunnel" during the intense transition period of October 2021.
    Kelsey and I, Our first photo in 2021.

    Deciding to leave a long-term relationship is never as simple as just walking out the door, especially if that door is being used as a weapon against you.

    This post isn’t just a recount of trauma; it’s an exploration of the terrifying moment I decided to gamble on a new life while my world was actively falling apart.

    Let’s take an honest look at my journey through a toxic relationship, where I existed in a loop of physical violence and emotional manipulation, fueled by a partner who knew exactly which buttons to press to keep me from leaving. Life coupled that with the crushing weight of losing my mother in the aftermath of it, and also gave me the terrifying decision to move two hours away into the unknown.

    I am sharing this because the narrative of domestic violence often excludes men, and that silence keeps people trapped in rooms where they are being systematically broken.

    The Weight of the “Unspoken” Struggle:

    Domestic abuse is frequently painted with a single brush.

    The reality is that being a man in an abusive relationship is often buried under layers of societal expectation and provider guilt.

    low-angle photo taken in a bathroom during one of the early dates. In the background, Kelsey sits cross-legged on the floor, making a playful, scrunch-faced expression with their hair styled in two small buns. In the foreground, the author leans toward the camera with a slight smile, his tattooed arm extended toward the lens. The background shelves hold personal care items, grounding the high-stakes emotion of the time in a quiet, domestic moment.
    The first time we colored Kelsey’s hair together.

    This narrative led to three years of me working multiple full-time jobs to support a woman and her children. My repayment, her relentless infidelity, isolation from my family, and physical violence.

    The details are blunt and heavy. The highlights are: an oak door slammed on my arm repeatedly to keep me from my keys, blunts extinguished on the backs of my hands as if I were the ashtray, and even a microwave thrown down a flight of stairs at the back of my head.

    Violence doesn’t have a gender, and the stigma attached to men being abused or controlled often prevents us from seeking help. I am living proof of this.

    In 2026, we are finally seeing more data (such as the recent FBI UCR reports) acknowledging that while statistics lean toward female victims, that doesn’t erase the hundreds of thousands of men who are subjected to domestic violence every year.

    • The Isolation Tactic: I was forbidden from speaking to my own sisters under the guise of jealousy.
    • The Financial Cage: Using her kids as leverage to ensure I would return after every attempt to leave.

    From having blunts extinguished on my skin to having a microwave thrown at my head, the violence was constant.

    A vertical selfie with a soft filter, captioned with the text "good things come to those who wait" in colorful letters. The author is shirtless, showing script tattoos across his chest and a dark beard, looking down at the camera with a weary but peaceful expression. Kelsey is nestled against his shoulder, wearing their glasses and making a slight "duck face" pout. This photo captures the intimate support Kelsey provided during the heavy season of his mother’s passing in November 2021.
    My stinky.

    However, the risk wasn’t just the physical danger of staying, it was the mental toll of being told that my female friends or even my own sisters had ulterior motives. This level of control is designed to make the outside world feel like a threat, making the prospect of leaving feel like jumping off a cliff without a parachute.

    The Convergence of Grief & Escape:

    The “straw that broke the camel’s back” so to speak happened in October 2021. While I was planning a benefit for my mother, who was desperately in need of a liver transplant, my partner refused to attend. She claimed benefits “weren’t her thing.”

    While she continued to isolate me from my support system at my lowest point. That refusal was the moment the fog cleared; I realized I was pouring my life into a person who wouldn’t even stand by me while my mother was dying.

    The ability to leave escalated almost immediately. Just days after the benefit, the legal landscape shifted when she lost custody of her son. I was much closer to him than anyone else in the house, because of this I no longer felt I had to be there.

    A grainy, dimly lit selfie taken inside a car at night. The author is in the foreground with a backwards cap and nose ring, looking directly at the camera. Kelsey sits in the passenger seat, their face illuminated by the car’s interior light and the glow of streetlights outside. Her arm is wrapped in protective plastic, covering a fresh tattoo. The image reflects the "on the road" feeling of their early relationship and the move toward a new town.
    The beginning of the rest of our lives,

    In the middle of all of this trauma, I met Kelsey. People often say you shouldn’t start a relationship during a crisis, I say to hell with people. Kelsey was the light at the end of a very dark tunnel.

    The Breaking Point: When Reality Hits Home-

    • The Ultimate Betrayal: Realizing my partner wouldn’t support me during my mother’s liver transplant benefit because it “wasn’t her thing.”
    • The Legal Shift: The moment she lost custody of her son, which severed my last emotional tether to that household.

    My Risky Leap During the Season of Grief:

    Leaving the chaos and transitioning into a new non-toxic life didn’t happen in a vacuum. It happened during the most painful season of my life.

    I met Kelsey while I was still entrenched in the fact that my mom was not getting any better. While I know the connection was immediate, the timing was risky by anyone’s standards. Two weeks after we started dating, my mother passed away.

    A stark, black-and-white close-up of two hands intertwined. One hand has a small dark mark nail polish chipped area on the fingernails. The focus is on the skin and the tight grip of the hold, symbolizing both the physical trauma mentioned in the narrative, and the grounding, healing presence of a partner who holds on through the healing process.
    The only hand I want to hold.

    In February 2022, I took the ultimate gamble: I moved two hours away to Kelsey’s town. No, I didn’t move in with her; I got my own apartment to ensure I was standing on my own two feet and working on myself.

    Moving to a place where I knew no one, while grieving my mother and healing from three years of battery, was scary as hell. It was a blunt, real struggle to redefine who I was outside of a provider for someone who mistreated me. Along with that I also struggled and still do with what a relationship is supposed to look like.

    Navigating the Transition:

    • October 14, 2021: Our first date, just three days after my mom’s benefit.
    • November 8, 2021: My mother passed away.
    • February 2022: I moved two hours away to a town where I knew next to no one, to give myself a chance at a clean slate.

    I wasn’t just moving to a new city; I was moving away from a version of myself that had been conditioned to accept abuse. I needed to know I could exist, pay my bills, and be at peace in my own space without a microwave being thrown at my head.

    A bright, wide-angle group photo in a living room decorated for Christmas. A large, flocked Christmas tree stands in the center. Ten people of various ages and a baby are gathered, smiling for a holiday portrait. Axton stands toward the right in a green striped sweater, next to Kelsey, who is wearing a red "Grumpy Cat" Christmas sweater. This image represents the contrast to the author's previous isolation, showing him surrounded by a supportive family.
    My first Christmas with the Family.

    This period of reflective struggle is where the real triumph happened. It wasn’t about escaping the physical blows it was about rebuilding the mental fortitude that three years of manipulation had stripped away.

    The Reward – Building a Future on Solid Ground:

    The aftermath of a risk like this isn’t always sunshine and rainbows immediately if ever; it’s a slow process of realizing you no longer have to flinch when someone moves too fast.

    The reward in my story is my peace. The peace I found in my own apartment and in a relationship built on mutual respect rather than fear and control.

    Looking back from where I am now, that risk saved my life in more ways than I could have imagined.

    Kelsey and I aren’t just a rebound story; we are a partnership that survived the hardest test possible right out of the gate. That journey of escaping and relocating has led us to a place where we are now planning a future together, with our wedding set for October 2026.

    Axton in a black t-shirt and sunglasses stands next to a tattooed Kelsey in a black tank top with squinty eyes and a double peace sign on the Dublin link in 2026.
    Us Currently.

    My journey proves that the most dangerous risks are often the ones that lead to the most profound peace. 

    Reclaiming my Narrative:

    Choosing Myself Over Chaos:

    Reclaiming your life after abuse is not a linear process. It is a messy, blunt, and often painful transition that requires you to be your own hero when you feel the least capable

    Stepping away from everything you know, even when what you know is killing you, is the most profound risk a person can take. This risk requires a level of blunt honesty with yourself that most people never have to face.

    While the move was physically and emotionally taxing, it allowed me to break the silence surrounding men who go through domestic violence. It is okay to admit you were hurt, and it is even more important to realize you deserve a life free from that pain.

    A medium shot from 2026, showing the couple standing face-to-face, nearly touching. Outdoors in front of a natural rock alcove, where a rough, brown stone wall is heavily covered in patches of green moss. The wall looms behind them, creating a wild backdrop. Kelsey is on the left, wearing a brown headband over their dark bun and glasses, looking into his eyes. Kelsey’s visible left arm is heavily covered in a colorful, traditional American-style sleeve tattoo. Axton (the author) is on the right, shirtless, showing his distinct chest and arm tattoos. His short hair is styled in a bright pink mullet, and he looks tenderly back at kelsey. The moment is quiet, intimate, and a powerful visual representation of the peace they have built together, contrasting sharply with the violence of the past.
    I never want to annoy anyone else but you, Kelso.

    I wasn’t running away; I was running toward a version of the future that included safety and love. The scars… both the physical ones on my hands and the emotional ones from the loss of my mother, remind me of what I survived, but they no longer define where I’m going.

    By prioritizing my own safety and peace over a toxic sense of loyalty, I didn’t just escape a bad relationship; I built a foundation for a marriage that represents everything the past three years weren’t. Now, as we approach our wedding day, I look back at that move in February 2022 not as an act of desperation, but as the most successful gamble I ever made.

    TLDR:

    Escaping Toxicity is a deep-dive into my high-stakes gamble for a new life. In the midst of losing my mother and enduring years of physical and emotional battery, I chose to move two hours away to reclaim my peace.

    This wasn’t about escaping a partner who used violence as a weapon; it was about dismantling the pattern of abuse and rebuilding a future on solid ground.

    Now, as I plan my wedding for October 2026, it’s clear that stepping into the unknown was the most successful risk I’ve ever taken.

    See for Yourself:

    National Domestic Violence Hotline- Stats

    Help guide- Details the unique barriers men face